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Set Firefox to retain download history

If you open the Downloads window by clicking the Tools menu and selecting Downloads, and there are no entries listed, it may be because you have not set Firefox to remember what you've downloaded.

At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button and then select Options.At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Tools menu and then select Options.On the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Preferences....At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Edit menu and select Preferences.

Click the menu button
and choose Options.Preferences.

Select the Privacy panel.

Set Firefox will: to Use custom settings for history.

Check the box for Remember download history.

Click OK to close the Options window.Click Close to close the Preferences window.Close the Preferences window.

After you close the OptionsPreferences window, Firefox will retain a list of files you download.

If the list of downloads is still blank after following the above instructions, continue with the next set of instructions.

Reset toolbars and controls

If Firefox is set to remember what you've downloaded, but the downloads window remains blank:

At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button, go over to the Help menuOn the menu bar, click the Help menuAt the top of the Firefox window, click the Help menu and select Restart with Add-ons Disabled.... Firefox will start up with the Firefox Safe Mode dialog.

Note: You can also start Firefox in Safe Mode by holding down the shift key while starting Firefox.holding down the option key while starting Firefox.quitting Firefox and then going to your Terminal and running: firefox -safe-modeYou may need to specify the Firefox installation path (e.g. /usr/lib/firefox)

Click the menu button
, click help
and select Restart with Add-ons Disabled.... Firefox will start up with the Firefox Safe Mode dialog.

Note: You can also start Firefox in Safe Mode by holding down the shift key while starting Firefox.holding down the option key while starting Firefox.quitting Firefox and then going to your Terminal and running: firefox -safe-modeYou may need to specify the Firefox installation path (e.g. /usr/lib/firefox)

If the list of downloads is still blank after following the above instructions, continue with the next set of instructions.

Remove corrupt downloads file

If Firefox is set to remember what you've downloaded, but its list of downloads is still blank:

Open your profile folder:

At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button, go over to the Help menuOn the menu bar, click on the Help menuAt the top of the Firefox window, click on the Help menu and select Troubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.Click the menu button
, click help
and select Troubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.

Under the Application Basics section, click on Show FolderShow in FinderOpen Directory. A window with your profile filesfolder will open.

At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button and then select ExitAt the top of the Firefox window, click on the File menu and then select ExitOn the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Quit FirefoxAt the top of the Firefox window, click on the File menu and select Quit

Click the menu button
and then click ExitQuit

Delete the downloads.sqlite file.

When you start Firefox again, your downloads should be remembered in the Downloads window.

Further troubleshooting

If the downloads history list is still blank after performing the steps above: